~June~
11) Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington
12) That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard
13) Insomnia by J.R. Johansson
14) Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey
15) A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee
16) The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
17) The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
18) Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton
19) The Boy on the Bridge by Natalie Standiford

Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!

When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?

Noteworthy Passages

Tessa; pg. 75"I can't tonight," I said. "I'm going to Aiden's for dinner. His mother is demanding it." My stomach turned. She did this every few months, mostly to scare me away. But it never worked. I had some very sharp claws for a Kitten, and they were firmly planted in her son's backside.

Kira and Tessa; pgs. 87-88"You and Aiden are like Romeo and Juliet," Kira said dreamily. "It's like star-crossed lovers and--"I furrowed my brow. "K, Romeo and Juliet killed themselves."She gasped. "Oh, my word! They did? That is so tragic!"

Kira and Tessa; pg. 92"I've got the audio feed," Kira whispered, nudging my leg. "Video is recording from the bar, but there's not a clear view. Wait..." She touched at her earpiece. "Marcus just told the accomplice that he has to...drain the lizard."We looked at each other and giggled. Honestly. How some of these boys scored was beyond me.

Tessa; pg. 229I dropped crossed-legged on the floor and folded my hands delicately on my lap. My squad walked over, watching me like they were afraid I might pull out a switchblade and murder them at any second. I was not unaware that none of them sat closer than three feet from me.

~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you all enjoyed the passages I selected and that you were able to get a laugh out of them. If you want to know more about what I thought of The Naughty List then you can read my Review.

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read this. And remember, I always love to read your comments. :D

PLEASE NOTE: This is a feature hosted here at my blog in which I present you with selected passages or quotes that I deem Noteworthy from a book I've just reviewed. My hopes are of course, that these passages will make you want to pick the book up and read it. This feature was started and created by me in January in hopes of making my blog more unique. That being said, I would like to kindly request that you do not use this feature as it was intended to be for my blog only and is not a meme. If you see some one else using it, please know it is without my permission. Thank you.

Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!

When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

Tessa was an absolute riot and I loved her character. She is very funny, polite, and doubles as a spy, of sorts. Underneath her happy facade though, there is a lot more going on than what at first appears. She really does want the best for people and I loved that about her and thought she was very easy to connect with. Her journey throughout the book to figure out who she really is aside from a smitten kitten and girlfriend was both humorous and, at times, a bit heartbreaking. Sure she made some mistakes but that just furthered her as a character. Now, on to Aiden; he was a very sweet, attentive boyfriend but I admit it took me a while before I could really grow to like him. Not sure what it was but at times he almost seemed too good to be true. I mean, he actually likes to paint Tessa's toe nails. However, as the book progressed, the romance, which felt lacking at first, improved and I grew to like him better. One thing that annoyed me though was how casual Aiden's little 'sleepovers' at Tessa's house were made to appear and the fact that the parents were conveniently not home a lot. Christian and his sister, Chloe, added a much needed bit of twisted-ness that I really thought made this book all the better. I also loved all the other smitten kittens and would love to have girls like that for friends.

The Naughty List was, at first glance, just a quick and fun book. However, I was surprised to find some more serious subjects weaved delicately into the story. These elements provided balance and depth while not overpowering the book, allowing it to stay mostly light rather than something dark and heavy. That being said, The Naughty List was a very refreshing read and while it was a bit predictable, I still got quite a bit of enjoyment out of it.

Young's writing style was very witty as well as fast-paced and easy to read. I like that she kept things simple instead of trying to over complicate the writing as I feel a simpler writing style really suits this book best. I also loved the alternate swear words.

I thought the ending was mostly appropriate, though things seemed to end almost a bit too well, and I was glad to see how far Tessa had come as a character. Plus, I was left anticipating the next book which is a major plus.

All in all, The Naughty List was a great debut from Suzanne Young and I was surprised when I discovered that underneath the cute and sweet coating, there was a slightly more bittersweet interior. This really is a hilarious read that can boost just about anyone's spirits. Unless you are suspecting your boyfriend of cheating on you, in which case I'd wait until those problems are resolved before reading this. lol. I can't wait to get my hands on So Many Boys!

In that moment,I realizea circle of loveis ten times betterthan a processionof sorrys.

Ava; pg. 217Guilt reminds meof a straycat.

You can chase it awayand yet,it comes backwhen you leastexpect it.

If you let yourselffeel pity for it andfeed the thing,it parks its ungly,puny,lonely-for-attentionbutton your doormatandwon'tgoaway.

~~~~~~~~~

I hope you all enjoyed the passages and that they'll encourage you to pick up this book. Also, I hope that those of you who've been a bit on edge about reading books in verse will look at this and see that it is both quick and enjoyable to read. Even I was a bit wary when I read my first free verse book but I'ver been in love with them ever since.

If you'd like to know more about my thoughts on this book you can read my Review. As always, thanks for stopping by and your comments are greatly appreciated.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a feature hosted here at my blog in which I present you with selected passages or quotes that I deem Noteworthy from a book I've just reviewed. My hopes are of course, that these passages will make you want to pick the book up and read it. This feature was started and created by me in January in hopes of making my blog more unique. That being said, I would like to kindly request that you do not use this feature as it was intended to be for my blog only and is not a meme. If you see some one else using it, please know it is without my permission. Thank you.

Won from The Story Siren (DAC)~Signed! Nightshade by Andrea Cremer~ARC of The Unidentified by Rae Mariz~Notebook~Tons and tons of swag

~~~~~~~~~~~

Black Friday

At around 11:20PM Thanksgiving night, my mom and I arrived at Walmart. A crowd was already gathering and people were surrounding the DVDs. "We can't start grabbing anything at all from the action alleys until 12:01 AM," they told me as I approached. So I spend the next 30 minutes just standing in front of the DVDs. I talk to a woman next to me as well as a girl a few years older than me and her dad. Me and the girl form a buddy system to make sure we can grab the dvds from each side of the display that we wanted. Somewhere between 11:50 and 11:55 PM someone comes over the intercom saying we can go ahead and start but can't check out until 12:01 AM. ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE! Within 15 seconds I have my dvds and am gone to search for my mom stationed at another DVD display. After we have what we want I go in search of the picture frame I was wanting. Lucky me, weren't a whole lot of people wanting those. My mom and I were checked out and had arrived home before 12:30AM with everything we wanted. Epic success. Here's what I got:

12pic Collage Photo Frame for $7(Already got my photography in it.)

Lord of The Rings #1 ($1.96)Lord of the Rings #2 ($1.96)Lord of the Rings #3 ($1.96)Blood Diamond ($1.96)Fool's Gold ($1.96)The Day After Tomorrow ($1.96)P.S. I Love You($1.96)The Blind Side($5)

Our total came under $28 for the whole she-bang! Yay! So all in all an excellent week for me. Hope you all got great stuff in your mailboxes and were able to conquer the Black Friday mobs.

Ava can't see him or touch him, unless she's dreaming. She can't hear his voice, except for the faint whispers in her mind. Most would think she's crazy, but she knows he's here.

Jackson. The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. He's back from the dead, as proof that love truly knows no bounds.

ReviewIf I could only pick one word to describe I Heart You, You Haunt Me, it would be bittersweet. Even in some of the darker, more sorrowful moments, I could see this glimmer of light peeking out at me saying that hope still remains. With hauntingly beautiful free verse, Schroeder pulled me in and didn't let me go, not even after I had turned the final page.

I was surprised by how well I was able to connect with Ava. She was a great heroine that I really found myself wishing would have a happy ending. Whenever she felt sad, so did I. When she was happy I found myself happy for her. Granted, the short length of I Heart You, You Haunt Me didn't exactly allow for thorough supporting character development but I found I wasn't bothered by that. Though they didn't appear often, the secondary characters still maintained their own personalities and I found I really liked them. Especially Jackson and Lyric, both of whom I wanted more of.

I Heart You, You Haunt Me is about one girl's loss and her journey through the pain to find peace and closure. This lovely story was many things including heartbreaking, touching, and beyond captivating. It is a very quick read and only took me about an hour from start to finish. I found the plot was actually very well paced and nothing felt rushed to me. However, this did not stop me from wanting more, though I can say I was more than satisfied.

I absolutely love books in free verse; the fact that Schroeder has such a gripping and beautiful writing style that flows from page to page like liquid silver only makes it all the better. Her writing was both emotional and, at times, even chilling, allowing I Heart You, You Haunt Me to cling to my heart and my mind once I was done.

I could not have possibly asked for more from the ending that Schroeder graced this book with. It was simply perfect and I loved everything about it except for the fact that it meant I now had to move on, that it was...you know...The End.

I Heart You, You Haunt Me is an emotionally wrought and keenly written debut from Lisa Schroeder. She does a wonderful job of showing how, even when it seems that way, all hope is never really lost. I would highly recommend this book and think it is safe to say, after having read Far From You and recently started Chasing Brooklyn, that Schroeder has secured a spot on my favorite authors list!

Monday, November 22, 2010

~The objective of the DAC is to read at least twelve novels from Young Adult or Middle Grade Authors. While twelve is the minimum there is no maximum limit! I encourage readers who can read more than twelve to do so!~Anyone can join. You don't have to be a blogger, and you don't have to live in the United States.~You do not have to have an blog written in English to participate.~You can join at anytime. The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

Qualifying books:

~Books must be a Young Adult or Middle Grade novel.~This must be the authors debut with a release date in 2011.~If an author has a previous novel published under adult fiction/nonfiction or children's fiction/nonfiction, they can still qualify for the challenge if they are releasing their YA or MG debut.

More challenge guidelines:

~Novels must be read between January 1, 2011- December 31, 2011. That means, those of you that have read arc forms of the titles early will not be able to count those toward your challenge totals.~You can use debuts from other countries, but the novel cannot be previously released in your county. (I explain this a little bit more in the FAQ section, if you want to check that out!)

My 2011 Debut Books of Choice

(Italics mean I already have it.)

A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wake Uno Me by Lisa Cach

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Purple Daze by Sherry Shahan

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Flirt Club by Cathleen Daly

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Never Sit Down in a Hoop Skirt by Crickett Rumley

Well there you have it people. Those are some of the 2011 debuts I'm going try and read. For more information on this challenge go HERE. To sign up, go HERE.

I hope you all enjoyed getting to see my first vlog! Sorry some things got cut off. I had finally gotten everything how I wanted just to find the video camera wasn't psoitioned right and this was take 4 so I wasn't doing another. lol. As a bit of a way of celebrating, I will randomly select one person who comments on this post with their email, by 11:59PM EST Monday night to win some Awakened by Ednah Walter swag/goodies.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth DurstPublisher: Margaret K. McElderryPub. Date: October 12th, 2010Pages: 320Age Level: 14+Source: For Giveaway from S&S. Yes I gave it away. I just read it first. Can you blame me? :P

Synopsis via GoodreadsWhat Lily Carter wants most in the world is to attend Princeton University just like her grandfather. When she finally visits the campus, Grandpa surprises her: She has been selected to take the top-secret Legacy Test. Passing means automatic acceptance to Princeton. Sweet!Lily's test is to find the Ivy Key. But what is she looking for? Where does she start? As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he's her guard. That's weird. But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her. He tells her that there are two Princetons—the ordinary one and a magical one—and the Key opens the gate between them. But there are more secrets that surround Lily. Worse secrets.When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life. Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between two worlds, with her family at its center. In a place where Knights slay monsters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage—and a little magic—to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.

Noteworthy Passages

Lily and Jake; pg. 88-89Below her, Jake called up, "Incoming--twelve o'clock!"Lily looked up and saw a security guard jogging toward the gym. She bet he wasn't going to like the explanation that she was up here to talk with a gargoyle. "Jake? Remember how you're going to keep me from splatting on the pavement?"

Lily, Tye, and Dragon; pg. 117-118She couldn't help smiling back at him. His tawny eyes were fixed on her as if her answer were all that mattered in the world. "Just back to the gate," she said.Tye smiled."And only if you promise the dragon won't eat me."The dragon spoke, "I wouldn't dream of it little Key. You are not flavored to my liking.""Somehow I don't feel reassured," she said.Tye held out his hand. "Trust me."

~~~~~~~~~

I didn't realize it until I went to type it but the second passage kinda reminds me of when Aladdin is trying to convince Jasmine to ride the magic carpet. Only this time it's a magic dragon. lol. This was a great read and I hope you'll pick it up for yourself. You can read my Review if you'd like to know more about it. :D

Thanks for stopping by and sorry I haven't been posting quite as much recently. Haven't been feeling totally up to par the past few days.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a feature hosted here at my blog in which I present you with selected passages or quotes that I deem Noteworthy from a book I've just reviewed. My hopes are of course, that these passages will make you want to pick the book up and read it. This feature was started and created by me in January in hopes of making my blog more unique. That being said, I would like to kindly request that you do not use this feature as it was intended to be for my blog only and is not a meme. If you see some one else using it, please know it is without my permission. Thank you.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Hello everyone! So today, at 1:20 PM, I turned 18 years old and became an adult. I find it amazing that despite being 8 lbs 14oz and 22ins long when I was born, I'm only 5'2" at age 18. O.o

So I got up this morning and opened my third present from my mom. My first present from her, Philosophy skin care products, I got way early and then I opened my second present from her shortly after midnight today. I opened my card/gift from dad yesterday since he told me to. If you want to know what I got you'll have to tune into my IMM Saturday and see. I'm hoping to do my first Vlog! :D

As for celebrating, I've pretty much just been lounging around as my mom and I don't have a car to go anywhere. We were supposed to have crab legs and fried oysters for dinner but, much to my dismay, the seafood store never seemed to be open. Instead we are having pot roast for dinner.

Now onto the part you have all just skipped to and have been waiting for. It's time to announce some winners. All winners have already been contacted and I'm only waiting on one of them to reply back. :D

Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth DurstPublisher: Margaret K. McElderryPub. Date: October 12th, 2010Pages: 320Age Level: 14+Source: For Giveaway from S&S. Yes I gave it away. I just read it first. Can you blame me? :P

Synopsis via GoodreadsWhat Lily Carter wants most in the world is to attend Princeton University just like her grandfather. When she finally visits the campus, Grandpa surprises her: She has been selected to take the top-secret Legacy Test. Passing means automatic acceptance to Princeton. Sweet!Lily's test is to find the Ivy Key. But what is she looking for? Where does she start? As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he's her guard. That's weird. But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her. He tells her that there are two Princetons—the ordinary one and a magical one—and the Key opens the gate between them. But there are more secrets that surround Lily. Worse secrets.When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life. Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between two worlds, with her family at its center. In a place where Knights slay monsters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage—and a little magic—to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.

ReviewAs it's name implies, Enchanted Ivy is truly an enchanting read. Infused with adventure, suspense, and a plethora of imaginative fantastical creatures, I found this one very hard to pull myself away from.

Enchanted Ivy has a lovely and eclectic array of main and supporting characters. Lily was a very lovable heroine; she was mature for her age, especially in regards to her family, but not so mature that it became unbelievable. She had a sassy wit about her and was very determined, great traits for her character to possess. Lily's relationship with her mother, Rose, and her grandfather was beautiful, touching, and keenly crafted. I particularly loved Rose's character and would have liked to have seen her incorporated into the story more. Now onto the love triangle. That's right ladies, get ready to be torn between two lovely leading men. I know I was and it seems Lily had a hard time choosing as well. First up we have contestant #1, Tye. He's a bit of an outsider with a sparkling personality and first on the scene. Plus he just so happens to be a were-tiger, werewolves are so out. Contestant #2 is Jake, grandson to head honcho of the Old Boys Club. He has a very sweet personality and I couldn't help but like him, misguided though he was. I was having a hard time choosing between the two but finally decided on Tye. Not only were Tye and Jake's individual relationships with Lily satisfyingly executed, but their relationship with each other was also well-developed and even held a bit of a surprise. Dragons, were-tigers, and gargoyles, oh my! Tons of various mythical creatures of legend and more were creatively and professionally intertwined into the story. The plot itself sucked me into the magical world of Princeton and I found myself not wanting to consign my mind back to reality. Despite being occasionally predictable, Enchanted Ivy was not without it's surprises either, keeping it exciting. Also, I loved the incorporation of familial relationships, something I wasn't expecting but was very delighted to discover.

Durst's writing style is both luminous and beautifully imagined. Having attended Princeton herself, she was able to provide an accurate and vivid detailing of the campus and it's physical attributes. The dialogue was witty and believable, the overall prose impressively wrought and well-paced.

I was very pleased with the ending that Durst provided me with as I felt it tied everything up nicely and was the perfect way to end the book. Especially that very last page; part of me almost wanted to cry.

All in all, Enchanted Ivy is a thoroughly captivating and enjoyable story that I can see myself reading time and time again. I give two-thumbs way, way up to Durst for creating this wonderful read and I'm really looking forward to devouring Ice, a previously written YA novel of her's. I would highly recommend Enchanted Ivy and suggest that, if you can, find a way to get your hands on a copy ASAP.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

My name is Darby Christopher, and though I know it's probably not polite to wrestle a blog away from a Pixie, that's what I'm doing here. In celebration of a certain blog author's birthday, [koff-Briana-koff] I'm here to give away a couple of books, and tell you about my new story. It’s called FACING FIRE.

FACING FIRE picks up the thread of what happened to me after the magical summer that you may have read about in A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW. Inside both these books you’ll see that while I might not be the greatest at scattering pixie dust, I have picked up a small talent for travelling through time…If you are interested in learning more, you may want to have a peek at my new book. You can find out more about it – and the author – at http://www.kcdyer.com/

Or better still, would you like to win a copy as a prize? If you leave comment on this post, The Book Pixie will put your name into a draw to win a free copy of the new book – FACING FIRE. And if you actually link to this post somewhere else [like in another blog, or facebook post or even a tweet] we’ll put your name in for the draw for BOTH of my books. Go for it!

By the way, if you’re into looking for prizes, [especially if you like making videos], check out my blog HERE at Darby Speaks. I have an AMAZING contest going with some totally fantastic prizes. And if you like twitter, you can follow all the latest on the contest and the blog tour and launches @DarbyWalking.

See you there.

And hey -- thanks for sharing your space with me today, Book Pixie!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Well you heard her everyone, if you would like to win both A Walk Through a Window and Facing Fire by KC Dyer, then leave a comment with a link to where you mentioned this contest either on your blog, twitter, or facebook.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Synopsis via GoodreadsARSON GABLE FEELS LIKE A FREAK. HE CAN CREATE FIRE. HE NEVER ASKED FOR IT. HE NEVER WANTED IT. BUT HE CAN'T SHUT IT OFF.

Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl-who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin-moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose. Using what he fears the most about himself, Arson must face his consuming past and confront the nightmare that is present as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Dark, moody, and breathtakingly relevant, Arson, the chilling chronicle of an isolated boy with unimaginable ability, is sure to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation.

Noteworthy Passages

Arson; pg. 63He could remember the loud, unmentionable sounds at night, the tormenting scenarios Arson fabricated after only moments of adolescent imagination. He recalled coming home one day to find the house abandoned, the man gone. Seeing the structure alive again with new souls was beyond emotion or belief. Where had they come from? What did they want with this dull town? Who were they?

Arson; pg. 264When Emery was near, Arson could glimpse hope for a normal life, free from fire. He wanted to tell her that he was different, how some days he sat behind the cabin and practiced burning up. Tried to turn it on and shut it off. It was hard and painful, but he was sure one day he'd be able to control it purely. On that day, he would tell Emery the truth, when his powers weren't measured by hatred or anger but rather controlled.

~~~~~~~~~~

I really enjoyed the writing in Arson and I feel both of these passages show why. This really was a great read and I hope that you'll check out my review and give this book a try if you haven't already. :D

PLEASE NOTE: This is a feature hosted here at my blog in which I present you with selected passages or quotes that I deem Noteworthy from a book I've just reviewed. My hopes are of course, that these passages will make you want to pick the book up and read it. This feature was started and created by me in January in hopes of making my blog more unique. That being said, I would like to kindly request that you do not use this feature as it was intended to be for my blog only and is not a meme. If you see some one else using it, please know it is without my permission. Thank you.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

I recently had the most fortunate opportunity to do a product review for the wonderful CSN Stores. What did I get you ask. Well, I'm about to show and tell.

CSN offered me $80 to use to select a product for review. Since my mom and I were in serious need of some new cutlery, I decided to try and find us something. That's when I came across this set of Six-Star Ronco knives, yes the ones from tv, and knife block.

I thought that these would be great to try and out and see if they live up to those oh-so-famous infomercials.

I'll start by telling you my mom and I's thoughts on the knives and give you the details:

Pros:~The knives are very sharp, atleast based on what we've been able to use them for thus far.~Great selection of knives. You have a knife for almost any job you can think of requiring a knife. ~Really nice pair of sharp kitchen shears.~Great price and quick shipping

Cons:~The handles are not as comfortable as I would have liked. The seam where the two pieces of the handle are riveted on is not smooth, resulting in a slight pinching in the palm when used for a long period of time.~Would have preferred heftier handles on pieces like the chefs knife, the cleaver, boning, and chop’n serve. These are frequently used pieces and often used with some force.~The sharpener handle is made from plastic and very light weight. Not sure how well it will hold up.

Pros:~Great labeling on the knife block. Lets you know exactly where all the labeled knives belong.~Holds the entire 25pc set, with 5 extra slots.~Nice, heavy and sturdy weight.~Great price and quick shipping.

Cons:~The steak knife slots on the knife block are spaced a little too close together to accommadate all 8 knives side-by-side. The extra slots can allow for you to space them in groups of four.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the end, I would recommend both products to those who could use new, good quality knives but are on a tight budget. Though there were a few flaws, my mom and I are both happy with the knives and block overall.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Synopsis via GoodreadsARSON GABLE FEELS LIKE A FREAK. HE CAN CREATE FIRE. HE NEVER ASKED FOR IT. HE NEVER WANTED IT. BUT HE CAN'T SHUT IT OFF.

Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl-who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin-moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose. Using what he fears the most about himself, Arson must face his consuming past and confront the nightmare that is present as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Dark, moody, and breathtakingly relevant, Arson, the chilling chronicle of an isolated boy with unimaginable ability, is sure to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation.

ReviewEstevan Vega's debut YA novel, Arson, is a darkly compelling and intense journey like no other. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Arson left me with my jaw dropped and my mind spinning.

The characters, and their relationships, were probably the strongest aspect of the book. Honestly, Arson, felt more character driven than plot driven, which did surprise me. There was one relationship, the one between Arson and his grandmother, that took me a while to get used to. At first, it seemed a bit perverse, but then it grew to be scarily realistic and thoroughly done. Arson was a very well developed and likable character once I got to know him; I found him to be both believeable and easy to connect with. His grandmother, Kay, I automatically felt disdain for. That being said, there was a part in Arson that actually had me feeling, dare I say it, sorry for her. I discovered I could no longer just straight out hate her and that there was a lot more to her character. Emery was a very unique and memorable character and while her relationship with Arson was somewhat dysfunctional, I actually liked that about it as it made it more honest. Emery's relationship with her family was also a very meticulously crafted facet that I was not expecting but was glad to find. Oh, and I can't forget Abraham, whom despite not being around much, really added a wry humor to the story that I quite enjoyed. Overall, the characters and their relationships with one another were strong, complicated, and believeable, making this book even better.

I'll admit, once I started Arson, I had some doubts. The book initially came off as disturbing, and not always in a good way, more like Vega was trying too hard to make it edgy. Yet even then I couldn't help turning the pages. Once I'd delved further into Arson, everything seemed to balance out so while the book was still creepy, it was actually very well done. Being a slightly more character-driven book, I found Arson's ability wasn't quite used to it's maximum potential, only bits and pieces here and there. However, the last part of the book was beyond exciting when Arson's ability really came into play. I spent most of the book thinking it was preidctable just to discover how wrong I was. Once I adjusted, I found myself completely engrossed in the story and it turned out to be very deep and captivating.

The writing was exceptionally done, providing both a sense of hope and foreboding. Vega's writing style is actually what first grabbed my attention. Honestly, I'm so surprised by the professionalism I found in it and it really helped create and breathe life into the dark atmosphere of the story. I also loved the way Vega did the alternating perspectives and the fact that he wrote Arson in third-person, something I really felt provided an unbiased sense of seperation that I found necessary for me, as the reader, to have.

The ending Vega gave Arson was just, wow! I was left shaking my head, eyes wide, thinking, It can't just end like that! There HAS to be another book. After speaking with the author, I have every reason to believe there is going to be a sequel. With that in mind, I loved the ending and it definitely has me amped up for the next book.

All in all, while Arson started out a bit rough for me, I was pleasantly surprised to find just how great it became as I continued. In a way, I like to think of Arson as a buried treasure; you may have to dig a little but it's all made worthwhile once you strike the gold. This is not a book I would recommend to everyone as it strikes me as more of an acquired taste. However, if the dark and deep are what you seek, then Arson is definitely the book for you! I know I plan to read it again and there dang well better be a sequel soon or I just might go supernova and explode.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Contest InfoThanks to the very lovely Chrissy with Simon and Schuster, I have five of their newly released YA books up for grabs!

You will be required to choose on the form which three books you would like to win. 1st place will get the ones they chose and then 2nd place will be determined based on what's left. For example, if White Cat and Zombies vs Unicorns are left, I will select a winner from the people who had both those books checked. This way both winners are guaranteed books they want.

Winners~1st place will receive three books of their choice from above.~2nd place will receive the remaining two.~Both winners will receive swag.

Contest Rules:~You must FILL OUT THE FORM to be entered.~Contest is open to US residents only unless you know someone who lives here that can except your prize for you.~Contest will run until 11:59PM EST on November 15th. Winners will then be announced on the 16th, my birthday. Winners will have 48 hours to reply to my email.

Extra Entires:You can earn extra entries by promoting this contest in your sidebar, on your twitter, and by adding my button. (Should be where people will notice it. Not at the bottom of your page or in a slideshow box.)

P.S. I will be reading Elixir and Enchanted Ivy but have no fear, I'm always very careful with my books.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Disclaimer: Please note that this is an ARC and passages and quotes below are subject to change in the final copy.

Synopsis via GoodreadsEighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except for the living, breathing, human products of his work. Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed "open-book" military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air 'athletes'; 'indies' as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance. While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems...

Noteworthy Passages

Clio; pg. 84Miranda certainly couldn't have cared less about anyone else's agenda when she'd taken her sweet time getting ready--at least half an hour longer than Bliss and I. Since the majority of her prep work had somehow occurred in front of my bedroom mirror, we'd been forced to wait for her. She'd made us examine each of four outfits from every angle as she danced around before finally picking a one-shouldered violet top and low-rise silk pants. When I'd warned her not to bend over too far or risk a panty reveal and she'd in turn informed me that she was, in fact, going commando, I'd known it was past go-time and dragged her out the door.

Clio; pg. 150-151Bliss, Garrett and Jack were already seated at our usual table, allowing me to pretend that I was shoveling food onto my tray in a rush to join them, not out of sheer gluttony. I almost blew past the silverware stand, thinking, Who needs a fork when you can use the chicken to scoop up the potatoes and eliminate the middle man?

~~~~~~~~

That first passage had me laughing and the second one, well, reminded this southern girl of how I eat fried chicken. lol. Solid was a really enjoyable read and I hope I've inspired you to pick it up and give it a shot. You can read my review HERE.

As always, thanks for stopping by and please feel free to comment if you can spare the time. :D

PLEASE NOTE: This is a feature hosted here at my blog in which I present you with selected passages or quotes that I deem Noteworthy from a book I've just reviewed. My hopes are of course, that these passages will make you want to pick the book up and read it. This feature was started and created by me in January in hopes of making my blog more unique. That being said, I would like to kindly request that you do not use this feature as it was intended to be for my blog only and is not a meme. If you see some one else using it, please know it is without my permission. Thank you.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Synopsis via GoodreadsEighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except for the living, breathing, human products of his work. Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed "open-book" military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air 'athletes'; 'indies' as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance. While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems...

ReviewSolid is the refreshing, exciting beginning to a potentially wonderful series; a great debut for Workinger.

Clio was a very likable, snarky heroine. She proved to be a great narrator for this story as I loved her voice and connected to her very easily. Solid was also full of distinct supporting characters as well. There was Garrett, the rowdier one and sort of joker of the bunch; he really livened up the story. We have Bliss, who is the more subdued, shy one of the group and a bit of a worrier. Miranda is our eco-friendly, sassy Cali girl whom, despite being a bit annoying, could also prove to be a great friend. Then we got Jack who knows a little bit about everything and is different from the rest in that he doesn't know what his ability is yet. Did I mention he's Clio's romantic interest, a spot that he filled fairly well though I would like to see more development there. Last, but not least, we have Alexis who enters the group last and throws us all for a bit of a surprise. Now, I can't go without mentioning Colonel Randall Clark and Janet, both of whom I was right about from the start. I felt the characters were all memorable and contributed to the story in one way or another; all in all, a great cast.

Solid is very short and fast-paced and I admit that I really wish it had been longer as I found I wanted more. True, there wasn't exactly a lot of action, but I still thought Solid did an excellent job of setting up the back story and getting things started. I was very compelled throughout the entire book and found the overall plot of a rogue military experiment very original and intriguing.

The writing was just mediocre for me. Workinger's choice of phrasing sentences could sometimes make things a bit confusing and I'd have to go back and read over certain parts again. However, the dialogue was well done and witty, something that I did like about the writing.

The ending pulled everything together quite well, almost too well; I was hoping for a bit more of a cliffhanger. Instead, it almost felt like this could have been a stand alone. Other than that, it was a fairly good end to Solid.

Despite having the occasional flaw here and there, I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed Solid. The writing may not have been great but the plot was fun and unique and the characters very well created. I would definitely recommend this book and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series, Settling.

Synopsis via GoodreadsTwelve-year-old twins, Drake and Stella Livingstone, along with friend Sherman Glutz, are sucked through the last light of a solar eclipse to an ancient world plunged into infinite darkness.

By the flickering glow of a pickle jar filled with fireflies, the trio braves slithering shadows, mind-boggling caves, nocturnal animals and mythical creatures. Can they restore light to the universe before it’s too late?

~~~~~~~~~~~

Contest InfoSo a little while back I read these two great MG novels which are the first two in a trilogy. Barely anyone has read them and I really wanted to make a special effort to help promote these two great books! You may be familiar with the author as being the one who wrote Ghost Ride which is a bit more well known.

Contest Rules:~You must FILL OUT THE FORM to be entered.~Contest is open to US and Canadian residents only unless you know someone who in either country that can except your prize for you.~Contest will run until 11:59PM EST on November 15th. Winners will then be announced on the 16th, my birthday. Winners will have 48 hours to reply to my email.

Extra Entires:You can earn extra entries by promoting this contest in your sidebar, on your twitter, and by adding my button. (Should be where people will notice it. Not at the bottom of your page or in a slideshow box.) I will also be adding extra entries to those who commented on posts related to either of these books PRIOR to this contest.

Synopsis via GoodreadsAfter discovering that someone saw what looked like Dan’s emergency EpiPen in A-lister Plum’s designer handbag, Scarlett and her tough American sidekick, Taylor, sneak into a posh London nightclub, where Plum has a private table. Scarlett is stunned to discover a piece of evidence that might implicate another girl in Plum’s exclusive circle, Lucy Raleigh. Which means Scarlett must cast a wider net in order to catch the right suspect.

Back at school, groundskeeper Jase is hoping to take Scarlett’s mind off her troubles with some heart-stopping kisses. Scarlett can’t help but feel guilty for indulging in romantic rendezvous when she should be hunting down Dan’s killer. However, once Scarlett finds out how Lucy is connected to Dan, she knows she must drop everything and travel to the McAndrew estate in Scotland to hunt for more clues. But when she arrives, Scarlett becomes the target of a dangerous hunt herself.

Noteworthy Passages (SPOILER FREE)

Scarlett; pg. 113It's a glorious autumn day, and the oak trees around the lake are deep shades of russet and gold, like quiet fires. The weeping willows dipping into the water are exactly as I remember them, their branches bending so elegantly they look like dancers leaning over the water. And the lake itself, with its central fountain of leaping dolphins, is one of the most calming sights I've ever seen in my life. There's something about still water shining in the sun that instantly makes you feel peaceful.

Scarlett; pg. 307But now, having acknowledged that, if we want to keep seeing each other, we'll have to do it despite our families' disapproval, we've instantly become sensitive about being seen together.It sounds romantic. It isn't. It's really annoying.

~~~~~~~~

Just reading that first passages relaxes me somewhat. So beautifully described. The second one I love because while forbidden love is almost always romanticized, here is a girl who doesn't view it that way, just as I don't.

This is really turning out to be a great series and I can't wait to read Kiss in the Dark. If you think you might be interested in this series, below are some links you might find helpful. Nothing, except the synopsis in the review for Kisses and Lies, contains any spoilers.

Thanks so much for stopping by and please be sure to let me know your thoughts if you have the time.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a feature hosted here at my blog in which I present you with selected passages or quotes that I deem Noteworthy from a book I've just reviewed. My hopes are of course, that these passages will make you want to pick the book up and read it. This feature was started and created by me in January in hopes of making my blog more unique. That being said, I would like to kindly request that you do not use this feature as it was intended to be for my blog only and is not a meme. If you see some one else using it, please know it is without my permission. Thank you.

Ok first off, I realized that I never announced the winner of my Crank/Glass box set giveaway. Whoopsies. XD The winner has already received her prize and that winner is.......

Latisha (Received)

Now, onto the winners of my three Halloween giveaways. Yes I know I was supposed to announce these yesterday but I went to bed early after having to do several other non-Halloween related things. So...here they are...

Winner of Contagion:

Karina (Claimed)

Winner of Lure:

Jamie B. (Claimed)

Winner of Drowned Sorrow:

PinkStuff28 (Claimed)

Thanks to everyone who entered and if you didn't win this time, remember I have plenty of giveaways linked in my sidebar in celebration of my upcoming 18th birthday.